Nagaland’s success stories and our strive Towards a State of Excellence

Abu Metha 

Nagaland dreamed big and gave a mandate to strive collectively Towards a State of Excellence. 2023 has been a good year. Yes… there is lot to be done but every member of Team Nagaland worked as one unit towards our collective goals. Our citizens, especially the youth, proved time and again that given the opportunities, the sky is the limit.

Here is a thread (in no particular order) highlighting some of many silver linings. All the credit goes to the achievers. We are celebrating their achievements and we hold up our heads with pride.

NAGALAND IS DREAMING BIG AND REACHING HIGH
NB: I am sure I missed many many more, apologies, but please add to the thread of those I missed.

Our pride & joy Imnainla Jamir is selected to be the Global Ambassador for MasterPeace, an international organisation headquartered in the Netherlands with a presence in more than 70 countries.

New Milestone for all Nagas!!

Faith in Action smashed the Guinness Book of World Records. Nagaland is at the top of the World!!

The Nagaland Mahila Band sets the stage of India’s Got Talent on fire by winning multiple golden buzzers. An entire nation is inspired!!

Weaver Neihunuo Sorhie is conferred the Padma Shree. Nagaland’s weaves, handlooms and handicrafts gains international momentum!! 

Moa Subong is conferred with the Padma Shree for music. It is a first for the music industry in Nagaland and an inspiration for all Naga musicians.  Pride from the Halls of Rashtrapati Bhavan!!

Nagaland wins 8 Medals at the National Games in Goa which included a Gold Medal won by Kitenlo K. Thono in Pencak Silat. The Nagaland sports narrative is beginning to take a positive turn!!

Supermodel and new face on the Bollywood block Andrea Kevichusa wins Filmfare’s Best Debut Female Award. A new high for Nagaland in the film and entertainment world!! 

Nagaland’s Kenie Ritse is crowned Miss North East in Sikkim. Beauty with substance!!

First medal for Nagaland at the Asian Games. Hokato Hotozhe Sema wins Bronze Medal in Shot Put at the Asian Para Games in China. Another barrier broken!!

One of Nagaland’s most progressive educational institutions, Tetso College hosts the Leading Together Dialogues, an international conference focusing on indigenous knowledge, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and other universities. International Platforms at our own backyards !!

The Nagaland Chamber Choir win two Gold Medals at the World Choir Games in South Korea. Does it get higher than this?!! 
The Sunshine Orchestra, under music maestro Dr AR Rahman and mentored by TaFMA comprising of children from Kohima Orphanage & Destitute Home, perform alongside renowned musicians at the International Concert for Friendship in Chennai. They also become the first from this part of the world to perform at 35,000 feet in the sky. The limit is beyond the skies!!

Five new state-of-the-art indoor multi-sports stadiums inaugurated at one go in five districts. Sports infrastructure in Nagaland takes a new turn. Grooming future champions!!

Luli Yeptho is awarded Female Vocalist of the Year at the Indies’s Awards. Girl Power to the fore!! 

Sunep A Jamir becomes Super Winner of the Nexa Music Awards, one of the most prestigious and reputed music awards of the country. Nagaland Music at the top of the nation!!

Vethozo Lohe becomes World Champion in Arm Wrestling by winning Gold in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 
Nagaland takes India to the top of the world!!

Kechavor Theunuo wins Gold at the ADCC Thailand Championships in Phuket by defeating his Russian opponent in the final. Naga youth are fighting … but now it’s for Gold!!

The Nagaland Emporium in the national capital, New Delhi is completely renovated with the target to launch the new look ahead of the G20 finale. Done and launched in 60 days and now amongst the best! 

Naturally Nagaland!! 
Cafè Hornbill, a new boutique café in Kisama, aimed to promote Nagaland’s renowned coffee is conceptualised, constructed and commissioned in 14 days by Architect Richard Belho and his team. Where there’s a will there’s a way!!

Five girls from Nagaland represent India at the Kings Cup World Championships in Sepaktakraw in Thailand, namely  Jwensinle kesen, Menenu Tsükrü, Seyiekhrienuo Tepa, Sezovelu Dozo and Akumtila. And they won 6 medals! Naga women continue to make India proud!! 

Two from Nagaland, namely, Mhonsao Ngullie and urna Konyak secured joint 1st Rank in the National Examination for Technical Officials under the Athletics Federation of India. On your marks…!!

Nagaland is host to the Meta Influencers Meet. Social media leaders with footprint and following of more than 10 Million converge in Nagaland to ideate in the Land of Festivals. Their experiences take Nagaland to the world!!

The Brilliante Piano Festival brought musicians and cultural ambassadors from different continents to Kohima. Nagaland continues to establish itself as a music capital and a centre for the arts!!

Poet, Politician & Author Mmhonlumo Kikon’s book, His Majesty’s Headhunters published by Penguin becomes a front and centre of the national discussion. A rare work that gives the Naga Narrative to an event of history that shaped the modern world. Claiming Nagaland’s rightful place in the world order!!

Vekhonielü Curhah wins bronze medal for India at the Asian Belt Wrestling Championships held in Uzbekistan. Girl Power Again!!

Yoto Chizo and Hemavi Ayemi from Nagaland represented India in the East Asian Muaythai Championship in Hongkong, China. Yoto Chizo won bronze medal in 71kg Men’s Category and Hemavi Ayemi (Coach) received the “Best Coach Award”. Fighting to Glory!!

Our Champion wrestler, Venuzo Dawhuo won the Chin Wrestling Championship 2023 held in the United States of America. Wrestling to the top!!

Sojourn Past an upcoming game, conceptualised and developed by Nagaland’s ReDimention Games led by Pekrukhrietuo, Imlijungshi and Loyeivi wins best upcoming game at the India Game Developer Conference, the country’s biggest event in this sector. Digital Delight!!

Nagaland Hosts G20 & B20 Summit. Maximum countries participate and Nagaland is uplifted to the global arena. The follow-ups and the takeaways continue. Pushing Naga Soft Power & Brand Nagaland!!

Our famed children’s choir, the Brightlights, and The Fantastic Company, both mentored by TaFMA enthralled audiences at the North East Festival in Vietnam. KL Pamei and Trans Effect rocked Ho Chi Minh City!! 

Our children have become our brand ambassadors in the international arena!! 

Temsu Clover. KL Pamei and Sunep A Jamir make it to the cover of Rolling Stone, a dream for every musician the world over. Nagaland’s musicians continue to shine!!

Sesovolu Dozo and Seyiekhrienuo Tepa represented India at the Asian Games in China in women’s Sepaktakraw. 

Viseyie Koso was part of the Indian mens team that won Gold at the Kings Cup in Thailand. We are starting to soar in sports!!

Chairman of Task Force for Music & Arts (TAFMA) Theja Meru is invited to speak as a resource person at the WOMEX – Worldwide Music Expo in Spain – the biggest in the industry. Recognition of our rise in the music industry!!

Four from Nagaland clear the UPSC examinations – Yimkum I Ozukum, Vevotolu Kezo, Imkongnukla Ao and Aotula Ozukum crack the country’s highest civil service challenge. Nagas will continue to contribute towards the nation building process!!

The Hornbill Festival of 2023 is one of the best ever in its 24 year history. For the first time ever and perhaps a first of its kind in the country, the festival had Country Partners and State Partner in the form of the United States, Germany, Columbia and Assam. 5 countries, 40 bands and 800 musicians perform at the music fest! Further Internationalisation of Nagaland!!

2024 WILL be BETTER, BIGGER and HIGHER. 

ALMIGHTY be with us. 
KUKNALIM!